Matthew 5
Good News Translation
The Sermon on the Mount
5 Jesus saw the crowds and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them:
True Happiness(A)
3 “Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
4 (B)“Happy are those who mourn;
God will comfort them!
5 (C)“Happy are those who are humble;
they will receive what God has promised!
6 (D)“Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires;
God will satisfy them fully!
7 “Happy are those who are merciful to others;
God will be merciful to them!
8 (E)“Happy are the pure in heart;
they will see God!
9 “Happy are those who work for peace;
God will call them his children!
10 (F)“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
11 (G)“Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. 12 (H)Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted.
Salt and Light(I)
13 (J)“You are like salt for the whole human race. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it.
14 (K)“You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 (L)No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead it is put on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. 16 (M)In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
Teaching about the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to make their teachings come true. 18 (N)Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the Law will be done away with—not until the end of all things.[a] 19 So then, whoever disobeys even the least important of the commandments and teaches others to do the same, will be least in the Kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, whoever obeys the Law and teaches others to do the same, will be great in the Kingdom of heaven. 20 I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires.
Teaching about Anger
21 (O)“You have heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not commit murder; anyone who does will be brought to trial.’ 22 But now I tell you: if you are angry[b] with your brother you will be brought to trial, if you call your brother ‘You good-for-nothing!’ you will be brought before the Council, and if you call your brother a worthless fool you will be in danger of going to the fire of hell. 23 So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.
25 “If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, settle the dispute while there is time, before you get to court. Once you are there, you will be turned over to the judge, who will hand you over to the police, and you will be put in jail. 26 There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny of your fine.
Teaching about Adultery
27 (P)“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But now I tell you: anyone who looks at a woman and wants to possess her is guilty of committing adultery with her in his heart. 29 (Q)So if your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose a part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 30 (R)If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose one of your limbs than to have your whole body go off to hell.
Teaching about Divorce(S)
31 (T)“It was also said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.’ 32 (U)But now I tell you: if a man divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, then he is guilty of making her commit adultery if she marries again; and the man who marries her commits adultery also.
Teaching about Vows
33 (V)“You have also heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not break your promise, but do what you have vowed to the Lord to do.’ 34 (W)But now I tell you: do not use any vow when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 (X)nor by earth, for it is the resting place for his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Do not even swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 Just say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’—anything else you say comes from the Evil One.
Teaching about Revenge(Y)
38 (Z)“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too. 40 And if someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41 And if one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. 42 When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something, lend it to him.
Love for Enemies(AA)
43 (AB)“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ 44 But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 (AC)so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. 46 Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! 47 And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that! 48 (AD)You must be perfect—just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Footnotes
- Matthew 5:18 the end of all things; or all its teachings come true.
- Matthew 5:22 if you are angry; some manuscripts have if without cause you are angry.
Matthew 5
English Standard Version
The Sermon on the Mount
5 Seeing the crowds, (A)he went up on the mountain, and when he (B)sat down, his disciples came to him.
The Beatitudes
2 And (C)he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 (D)“Blessed are (E)the poor in spirit, for (F)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are (G)those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the (H)meek, for they (I)shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and (J)thirst (K)for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are (L)the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are (M)the pure in heart, for (N)they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are (O)the peacemakers, for (P)they shall be called (Q)sons[a] of God.
10 (R)“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for (S)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 (T)“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely (U)on my account. 12 (V)Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for (W)so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth, (X)but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 (Y)“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 (Z)Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so (AA)that[b] they may see your good works and (AB)give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Christ Came to Fulfill the Law
17 (AC)“Do not think that I have come to abolish (AD)the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but (AE)to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, (AF)until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 (AG)Therefore whoever relaxes (AH)one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least (AI)in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great (AJ)in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds (AK)that of the scribes and Pharisees, you (AL)will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Anger
21 (AM)“You have heard that it was said to those of old, (AN)‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable (AO)to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that (AP)everyone who is angry with his brother[c] will be liable (AQ)to judgment; whoever insults[d] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to (AR)the hell[e] of fire. 23 (AS)So if (AT)you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 (AU)Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, (AV)you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.[f]
Lust
27 (AW)“You have heard that it was said, (AX)‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that (AY)everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 (AZ)If your right eye (BA)causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into (BB)hell. 30 (BC)And if your right hand (BD)causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into (BE)hell.
Divorce
31 (BF)“It was also said, (BG)‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 (BH)But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and (BI)whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Oaths
33 “Again (BJ)you have heard that it was said to those of old, (BK)‘You shall not swear falsely, but (BL)shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, (BM)Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for (BN)it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is (BO)the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; (BP)anything more than this comes from evil.[g]
Retaliation
38 (BQ)“You have heard that it was said, (BR)‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, (BS)Do not resist the one who is evil. But (BT)if anyone (BU)slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And (BV)if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[h] let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone (BW)forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 (BX)Give to the one who begs from you, and (BY)do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Love Your Enemies
43 (BZ)“You have heard that it was said, (CA)‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, (CB)Love your enemies and (CC)pray for those who persecute you, 45 (CD)so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and (CE)sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 (CF)For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,[i] what more are you doing than others? Do not even (CG)the Gentiles do the same? 48 (CH)You therefore must be (CI)perfect, (CJ)as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Footnotes
- Matthew 5:9 Greek huioi; see Preface
- Matthew 5:16 Or house. 16 Let your light so shine before others that
- Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts insert without cause
- Matthew 5:22 Greek says Raca to (a term of abuse)
- Matthew 5:22 Greek Gehenna; also verses 29, 30
- Matthew 5:26 Greek kodrantes, Roman copper coin (Latin quadrans) worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
- Matthew 5:37 Or the evil one
- Matthew 5:40 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
- Matthew 5:47 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
